2016 Nissan Altima: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Nissan Altima: 4 recalls, 553 owner complaints and up to 31 mpg combined.

Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V244000 · 2016 · 3,296,947 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan altima, nv200, leaf, sentra, and pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan nv200 taxi, Infiniti qx60, qx60 hybrid, and q50 hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan rogue and Infiniti q50, 2015-2016 Nissan murano, murano hybrid, and Chevrolet city express, 2014-2015 Nissan pathfinder hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti jx35 vehicles. In these…
Why it matters: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet city express owners will be notified by general motors. Dealers will reprogram the air bag control unit (acu) and ocs electronic control unit (ECU) in altima, maxima, murano, rogue, and sentra vehicles, and replace the ocs ECU in leaf, nv200, nv200 taxi,…
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #17V040000 · 2017 · 341,005 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles May have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window May inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
Why it matters: If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it May increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017.
Body & structure, Latches & locks Vehicle recall #18V915000 · 2018 · 341,003 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17v-040. The door latch-lock cable May not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable May interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
Why it matters: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #20V315000 · 2020 · 1,831,818 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch May corrode over time.
Why it matters: Corrosion to the secondary latch May cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an ownerâs manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 32 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (235): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (104), warning light on (77), stalls / loses power (44).
- Engine (86): the most common themes are warning light on (24), stalls / loses power (21).
- Other / unknown (81): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (15).
- Airbags (70): the most common themes are warning light on (16), fails to deploy (14).
The 2016 Nissan Altima has 553 owner complaints, ranking #10 of 34 Altima model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 455). Complaints peaked in 2019 (115 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 58,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (954 complaints, 10 recalls), 2017 (391 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 39 | 31 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Nissan Altima.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Nissan Altima. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Nissan Altima problems?
Owners have filed 553 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (235), engine (86), other / unknown (81).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Nissan Altima get?
EPA ratings run up to 31 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Nissan Altima repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.